Jerwin Ancajas vs Ryuichi Funai Betting Odds and Prediction

Filipino IBF Jr. Bantamweight Champion Jerwin Ancajas defends his title for the seventh time this Saturday, May 4th when he takes Ryuichi Funai of Tokyo, Japan at the Stockton Arena in Stockton, California. The 12-round bout can be seen in the USA on ESPN and ESPN Deportes. Fans in the UK can see it on BoxNation and those in Canada can catch it on TSN 2. Ancajas last fought in September and retained his title with a split decision draw against Alejandro Barrios. Funai’s last action came in November when he stopped Victor Olivo in the second round.

Ancajas vs Funai Betting Odds

My Pick

Ancajas is a 27-year-old southpaw who enters the ring at 30-1-2 with 20 Kos. He won the title via a unanimous decision over McJoe Arroyo in September, 2016. He’s also defended it against Jose Alfredo Rodriguez, Teiru Kinoshita, Jamie Conlan and Israel Gonzalez all by stoppage. The champ is 5-feet-6-inches tall with a 66.5-inch reach and has boxed 195 rounds since turning pro in 2009. Before that, he enjoyed a fine amateur career by going 90-5. He’s also won the WBO Asia Pacific Youth Super Flyweight Title, Philippines Luzon Professional Boxing Association Bantamweight Title and the IBF Pan Pacific Super Flyweight Title.

Ancajas is a skilled all-round boxer who carries plenty of power in his fists with a current knockout ratio of 61 per cent. He also has a solid chin and isn’t shy about letting his hands go. He doesn’t have a problem with fighting in the States since he’s 9-0-1 with 7 Kos while boxing outside of his homeland. He’s not perfect though as Ancajas was beaten via a 10-round majority decision by Mark Anthony Geraldo in March of 2012 and was held to a four-round technical draw by Ervin Yamo in May, 2010. That fight had to be stopped due to a cut eye suffered by Ancajas which was caused by an accidental headbutt.

Funai is 33 years old and climbs through the ropes with a mark of 31-7 with 22 Kos. He’s on a seven-fight winning streak since his last loss, which was a 10-round majority decision to Sho Ishida in April of 2016. Funai turned pro in 2005 and lost two of his first four pro bouts. Before losing to Ishida for the Japanese Super Flyweight Title he hadn’t lost since 2012. He then won that title in 2017 and has defended it twice.

Funai then captured the vacant WBO Asia Pacific Super Flyweight Crown last June by stopping Warlito Parrenas in the eighth-round. Funai’s chin may be questionable since he’s been stopped three times but all of those bouts came between 2006 and 2012. He stands 5-feet-7-inches tall but has an unlisted reach so has a one-inch height advantage on Ancajas. This will be the first world title shot for the Japanese veteran.

Prediction…

Ancajas is a fine boxer with good power but wasn’t at his best in his last fight against Barrios. Funai has improved as his career has gone on and he may give Ancajas all he can handle here. However, I’m still expecting the champion to retain his title on Saturday night.